Ellesmere: The Tale of the Hybrid Ones

Chapter 2: The Begining

After a few years of learning how to control the beast Kane no longer had to lock himself away anymore, but would still stay away from anyone ,fearing he would hurt them.  He was 15 now and he was aching to know how his father died and who his mother is or was if she was dead. His grandfather refused to tell him ever since his father was brought up in a passing conversation with one of the guards. So, he set off to find the house they once lived in. Vivaldi told him where it was and how to get there “follow the river till you reach the mountain peaks, then find the road called Rivilk and take that till you reach the place. The name of the house is silver manner”. “why is it called that?” Kane asked. 

Vivaldi replied “that is the last name of our family. Your full name is Kane ray silver.” “there is one thing I should tell you about your fathers’ death that you should know” he added with regret. Kane prodded further “please grandfather, tell me.”  Vivaldi tried to say it without crying “your father was killed because of you and your mother.” “what!?!” Kane let out with a boom. “where is she? is she still alive? what happened?” Kane asked his grandfather for more but the only other thing he said was “your mother died bringing you to me because she had been shot with an arrow when she was escaping the home.”

Kane set off to the manner. He didn’t know what to think. “he hid the truth from me” he said under his breath “he lied.  Why, why did he do that to me? I don’t understand.” He followed the river till he reached the road and soon after reached the burned remains of the home where he used to live. He gazed at the ruins with disbelief. Abruptly a voice called out from behind “hey you!”

Kane jerked around sword at the ready. “wow there.  I don’t mean you harm but what you are doing out here?” the stranger asked. “who lived here?” Kane demanded. The stranger replied “the man who lived here was a trader to his own kind. Having a kid with someone other than his own people. By the way, what are you?”  “pardon?” Kane enquired confused. “are you a ghoul, a werewolf or human” he inquired, beginning to sound impatient.  

Kane didn’t really comprehend the stranger’s question. “why you ask such a strange query?” the stranger looked even more distressed at Kane’s choice of words and realized who he was. ‘ah never mind with that, that was relatively impolite of me. I ask for forgiveness. I had no idea that I was in the presence of the grandson of the ghoul lord.” Kane’s expression changed as the man kneeled to his feet for forgiveness. “please rise you have done nothing wrong. I just didn’t grasp what exactly what you were asking.” They both sat at a fallen log and talked for a long time about the house with the man finally telling Kane who he was. “my name is Rupert by the way. What’s yours?” before Kane could answer a deer rand and stopped in front of them. The three stared at each other before an arrow hit the deer in the neck killing it. Isabell came out of the spot she was crouching to realize that she was not alone anymore. “oh, I’m sorry I didn’t see you two there.” She said with wide eyes. Rupert stood up and seemed to recognize her. “your Cial’s daughter, right?” “yea you must be Rupert, mom told me that you were new to the area and if I saw you to say hi for her.” She replied with a smile.  Kane stood up and looked at the deer and then to the spot she had come out of. "That was some shot Izzy'' Rupert said, impressed by the shot. "thanks I have been practicing my bow and arrow skills so I can bring home good food for mom and me." " ah, yes how is she by the way? last I heard she got her leg caught in a stray trap." Rupert's face had a worried expression. "oh dear that must have hurt. i hope she is alright'' Kane added.

"yea she is down and out for hunting right now but she will heal with time." she replied to them both with a smile. "haven't seen you before. What's your name stranger?" she asked as she held a hand out to Kane. He was surprised at the friendliness of the two strangers he had just met but was grateful to say the least. "My name is Kane Silver, and if what I heard was correct, is yours Izzy?" He took her hand in a shake before letting go. "It's my nickname that my friends call me but it's Isabell, Isabell Sun. I hate to ask but you mind helping me out?" " what do you need?" Kane responded " this buck is a lot bigger than I had thought and I don't want to drag it all the way home. So would you mind helping me get it there? we have a spare room if you are looking for a place to stay for the night and it's better than staying out here." " would your mother be ok with that? Iz she may not want company right now." Rupert said with a concerned voice. "Not saying you're a stranger to us there Kane but her mother is a bit weary of new people. hell she shot me when we first met." Kane looked at the two but was still willing to help. " I don't think she will mind it too much since he can help get this big lug home" Isabell replied kicking the fresh kill on the ground. She removed the arrow and wrapped the neck in a rag so blood would not come out. " there, now you shouldn't get that much blood on your clothes." Kane reached down and hoisted the deer on his shoulder and they both waived to Rupert goodbye.

"be careful you two there are wolves about at this time of day." Rupert called out as they walked out of sight. Kane looked up at the sky to see it was almost dusk. "yea I had the same thought we should get moving" Izzy said looking back at him. "agreed" he replied back, picking up the pace. By the time they had gotten to her cabin it was almost dark. "Isabell? is that you sweetheart?" her mom called from the back porch as they got close. "yea its me mom and I brought a friend and food." she hollered back. As they got closer Kane noticed a woman on a rocking chair with a bandage on her leg. They stepped up on the porch and Kane put the buck on what looked like a meat table that he would have found back at his grandfathers next to the door. " well aren't you a handsome fellow. and your name is?" Isabell's mother asked with somewhat of a Southern bell voice. Kane was taken back at the different tones of voices between the two women standing in front of him. " my name is Kane mam'' he replied. "no need for the mom, just call me Cial. I see you helped bring home dinner?"  "that buck was too big for me to carry home but thankfully I ran into Rupert and Kane so he helped me out" Izzy replied with somewhat of a cheery and sleepy tone. " you seem tired dear, you alright?" her mom asked "yea I wanted to get home so that we could have a somewhat early dinner. so we kind of ran all the way here." " you ran here with this big of a buck on you?" Cail asked, turning to the two of them. " it was not that much of a challenge in use to moving boulders bigger than that buck." Kane replied with a small smile rubbing the back of his neck. "you live up in the mountains then Kane?" " yea I live up there with my grandfather." he was cut off by Isabell before he could say anything more. "I don't mean to interrupt but its getting kind of chilly out here why don't we move this inside?"

"Yes that might be a good idea, why don't you show our guest to the extra room?" her mom said as she started to get up from her chair. " I will see to dinner you two go get washed up."

When they entered the cabin Kane's eyes widened at the décor inside. The floor had a big skin rug that felt so soft on his toes and the fireplace had a rack of antlers that held up a portrait of a man, woman and child. Kane had gotten to his room and changed into a fresh pair of clothes he had brought. He had a nice looking red tunic and black pants to match. He came down to see both of the women setting a cozy looking dining table for dinner. “Is there anything I can help with?” he asked with a smile. “ well look at you, that's a fine tunic you got, where did you get it?” Izzy asked. “It was my fathers. I got it out of his chest before I set out.”

“if I may?” her mom asked “Who is your grandfather?” Kane didn't know how to respond but he felt that he could be truthful with them. “My grandfather's name is Vivaldi Silver, lord of the ghouls.” Both Isabell and her mother looked at each other for a moment then looked at Kane. “why are you so far from home, your grace?” her mother asked. “May I sit here?” he asked now with a sadden look on his face. She nodded and he sat in the chair at the head of the table. “I’m looking for the people who murdered my parents.”